Milking machine pulsator



Sept. 26, 1950 s. P. WALL MILKING MAqI-IINE PULSATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1945 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. Sum P Wall T mm IFIMIITL Sept. 26, 1950 s. P. WALL MILKING MACHINE PULSATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1945 INVENTOR. Sum F? Wall FIG. 6

" Patented Sept. 26, 1950 MILKING MACHINE PULSATOR Sam P. Wall, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Rite-Way Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 22, 1945, Serial No. 636,860

This invention relates 'to milking machine pulsators, particularly to pulsators of the type which operate to apply suctionand atmospheric pressure alternately to the teat cups of a milking machine. More specifically, the invention relates to a pulsator of the type wherein the change from suction to atmospheric pressure is brought about by the reciprocation of an operating piston and wherein the frequencyof the reciprocation of the piston is .determined by a second piston, referred to as a timing piston, whose speed is adjustable.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a pulsator of the above mentioned type wherein the piston cylinders are formed in a central block in aligned'pairs and wherein the pistons in an aligned-pair of cylinders are'interconnected by means of a bar which is entirely outside of the cylinders and therefore does not require any packing. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a Vacuum operated pulsator having few parts and wherein the ports are all located in a single block which is the block in which the cylinders are formed. It is astill further. object of the present invention to provide a pulsator of the above mentioned character which is simple and economical of construction and wherein the number of parts that may get out of order or result in leakage are reduced to a minimum.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forminga part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a pulsator embodying the present invention;

9 Claims. (01. 31-61) Figure 2 is a side view of the pulsator of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a half section end View of the pulsator takenalong the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top view of the pulsator of Figure 1 with the draw bars and pistons and valves removed; I

Figure 5 isa side view of the structure of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is abottom view of the structure of V Figure 4; v

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken along the line 1-1 of Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view through the end of one-of the pistons, said view being taken along 2 to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout.

The pulsator of the present invention, indicated in general by the reference numeral I includes a central cylinder block 2 which has four cylinder bores 3, 4, 5 and 6 formed therein at the opposite sides 1-? thereof. Each cylinder bore extends from one face of the block into the block a distance almost but not quite to the center of the block, as may be seen from Figure 3 and Figure 4. This leaves a central wall l0 between the cylinder bores 3-4 and between the bores of the cylinders 5-6. The central wall It has a vacuum port ll extending entirely through the block. Adjacent the port ll there are two ports 12-13 which open at the top [4 of the cylinder block and extend vertically downwardly into the cylinder block into communication with horizontal ports I 5-I6, respectively. Short nipples l'l-IB thread into the end [9 of the cylinder block and establish communication with the ports l5-I6, respectively. These nippics are provided for receiving rubber hose connections that extend to the outer shell of the inflations of the usual teat cups.

At the bottom of the pulsator there is secured a fitting 22 in any desired manner, as by means of a pair of screws 23. This fitting includes a smooth outer cylindrical tube 24 having a flange 25 at the top. The tube 24 is adapted to fit into a similarly shaped opening in a milk bucket, although this is optional. The cylindrical wall of the tube 24 has a nipple 26 extending thereinto. This nipple is adapted to receive the end of a hose leading to a vacuum pump or a vacuum line. The flange 25 has an opening in line with the port H. The central wall II] has a vacuum port 30 which extends from the top surface of the cylinder block 2 through the block and through the flange 25 and opens at the :bottom on the interior of the tubular portion 24. This port is intersected off center by a threaded port 3| in which is threaded an adjusting screw 32 that extends through the end 33 of the pulsator block 2. The port 3! communicates with a vertical port 34. that also opens at the top of the cylinder block. Two additional'ports 3'5 and 36extend from the topof the cylinder blockto the cyline ports 38 and 39 extend downwardly and then 3 meet with intersecting diagonal ports 40 and 4|, respectively.

Four simila pistons slide in the cylinder bores 3, 4, 5 and 6. The pistons are indicated by the reference numerals 45. Each piston has a cylindrical bore 46 therein at the back portion thereof and at the front has a conventional cup-shaped sealing gasket 4'! of leather or the like, held in place by a disc 48 and a screw 49. A pair of bridge members 50 and 5| are provided. Each bridge member includes a cross bar from which extend a pair of pin-like fingers 5454 each of which extends into the bore 46 in the adjacent piston. Each piston is slotted at its back side, as indicated at 56, for receiving a spring 51 which presses against the finger 54 to hold the same frictionally against retraction from the piston. Each bridge 565| extends across th top of the block 2. The bridge 59 has secured thereto a slidable valve 60 which slides on the top surface of the block 2. The valve 6% has on the under surface thereof passageways E|82 which open to atmosphere, and has also on the under side thereof a Z-shaped passageway 63 that is adapted to establish connections between the port and the ports 3839, selectively. When either one of the last mentioned ports is connected to the central vacuum port 30 the other one of the two ports 38-39 is connected to atmosphere by the port 6| or the port 62, as the case may be.

The bridge 5| is connected to a valve plate 10 which also slides on the top surface of the cylinder block. The under surface of the valve plate 10 has a passageway H which is adapted to connect the vacuum port 34 with the vacuum port or 3B, selectively. The under surface of the valve plate 10 also has passageways 12-'|3 that lead to atmosphere and are adapted to connect with the ports 36 or 35, respectively. When the passageway connects the port 36 with the port 34 the passageway 13 connects the port 35 with atmosphere, as may be seen from Figure 1. When the valve plate 10 is moved to its alternate position the passageway 72 connects the port 36 to atmosphere, and the passageway H in the plate 1 10 connects the port 36 to the vacuum port 34.

In addition to the above mentioned passag ways the plate 70 has holes 16 and H extending therethrough to the atmosphere. In addition the under side of the plate 10 has a tortuous passageway 18 formed therein. When the valve plate is in the position illustrated in Figure 1 the passageway 18 connects the vacuum port with the port l2. At the same time the passageway Tl overlies the port l3. When the bridge 5| is in its opposite extreme position the opening '16 overlies the port I2, and the tortuous passagewa 18 on the under side of the valve plate 10 establishes communication between the port l3 and the vacuum port I l.

An explanation will now be given of the mode of operation of the pulsator thus far described. Assume that the sets of pistons are in their opposite positions, as illustrated in Figure 1. At that time atmospheric pressure is applied to the nipple H; by way of the opening Ti, and vacuum is applied to the port i2 and nipple l! by way of the vacuum'port I, through the tortuous passageway 18 on theunder side of the valve plate 10. Vacuum is thus applied to the shells of one of the two sets of teat cups, and atmospheric pressure is applied to the shells of the other of the two sets of teat cups which are connected to the respective nipples |'|--|8. At the sametime vacuum is applied by way of the port 30 to the port 38, thence by way of the port 40 to the op erating face of the piston in the cylinder 4, and atmospheric pressure is applied by Wa of the port 39 and passageway 4| to the operating face of the opposite piston within the cylinder bore 3. This immediately causes pistons which are interconnected by the bridge 5| to move from the position illustrated in Figure 1 to their alternate position, thereby immediately changing the vacuum and atmospheric connections to the nipples |'|--l8. As soon as the bridge 5| reaches its alternate position the passageway H on the under side of the valve plate 10 establishes vacuum connections from the port 34 to the port 35, and the passageway 12 on the under side of the plate 10 establishes atmospheric connections to the port 36. Atmospheric pressur is thus applied to the working face of the piston in the cylinder 6 and vacuum pressure is applied to the working face in the cylinder 5. This immediatel causes the two control pistons that are interconnected by the bridge 50 to commence moving from the positions illustrated in Figure 1 to their alternate positions. The rate of movement is controlled by the rate at which air can move through the port 34, as determined by the setting of the screw 32. The pistons connected by the bridge 56 move slowly until they reach th position opposite to that illustrated in Figure 1. In that position the Z-shaped passageway 63 in the bottom surface of the valve block 60 establishes communication from the vacuum port 30 to the port 39, and the passageway 6| establishes atmospheric connections to the port 38. This causes the operating pistons that are connected by the bridge 5| immediately to return to the position illustrated in Figure 1. It is thus apparent that the timing pistons which are the pistons connected to the bridge 50 move back and forth slowl at a rate of speed determined by the setting of the adjusting screw 32, and whenever they reach one extreme position or the other the establish vacuum and atmospheric connections for reversing the position of the operating pistons, which are the pistons that are interconnected by the bridge 5|. The operating pistons immediately move to their opposite position and when they reach that position the valve plate 10 reverses the vacuum and atmospheric connections to the cylinders of the timin pistons and thus causes the cycle to be repeated.

In'compliance with the requirements of the atent statutes I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative of th principles of the invention. What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A pulsator for milking apparatus, comprising a valve block having an upper surface and two oppositely disposed side surfaces and twooppositely disposed end surfaces, two parallel cylinder bores extending inwardly from each of said 7 side surfaces of the block and with the cylinder bores in oppositely aligned pairs, the block including an imperf orateclosure between cylinders of each pair to close them off from one another, a piston in each cylinder, one end of each piston facing into the cylinder and the opposite end being in the open atmosphere, piston rods joining together the pistons in the oppositely disposed cylinders adj acent their ends that are in the open atmosphere, said piston rods extending across the upper flat surface of the valve block.

' 2.,A pulsator for: milking apparatus; comprise ing a valve block having an upper surface and two oppositely disposed side surfaces and two OPPO', sitely disposed end surfaces, two parallel cylinder bores extending inwardly from each of said side surfaces of the block and with the cylinder bores in oppositely aligned pairs, a piston in each cylinder, piston rods joining together the pistons in the oppositely disposed cylinders, said piston rods extending across the upper flat surface of the valve block, air passageways each opening at one end in one of the cylinders and the other ends of the respective passageways terminating in ports at the upper surface of the valve block with the ports of each pair of air passageways from oppositely.,,disposed cylinders located in pairs adjacentlthe piston rod of the other pair of oppositely disposed cylinders, a vacuum passage in said valve block, air passageways extending from said vacuum passage to ports at the upper surface of said valve block adjacent the respective pairs of ports, and valve means at the upper surface of the valve block for connecting each of the first mentioned ports to a port from the vacuum passage and then exposing said first mentioned port to the atmosphere, thereby producing alterations of the pressure in the cylinder bores and resulting movement of the pistons therein.

3. A pulsator for milking apparatus comprising a valve block having an upper surface and two oppositely disposed side surfaces, two sets of aligned cylinder bores formed in the blockiand opening in said side surfaces, the combined axial length of each of the bores of a set being substantially less than the width of the block so as to leave a mass of the block material between aligned bores which mass constitutes the closure for adjacent ends of aligned bores, pistons reciprocable in the respective bores, bridging means connecting the pistons in aligned bores, said bridging means extending across the upper sur-- face of the block, ports in the portion of the block between aligned cylinder bores and terminating at the upper surface of the block, and valves sliding on the upper surface of the block and controlling the ports, said valves being connected to and operated by the respective bridging means.

l. A pulsator for milking apparatus, comprising a valve block, two incommunicating cylinder bores extending inwardly from each of two opposite sides of the block and opening outwardly of the block, the corresponding bores in the opposite sides of the block being in alignment, operating pistons in one set of aligned bores and timing pistons in the other set of aligned cylinder bores, means for interconnecting aligned pistons comprising bridging members extending across the block, air passageways for the cylinder bores terminating in ports at the top of the block between the bores therein, valve means operated by the timing pistons for controlling the establishment of vacuum connections alternately to the respective ports leading to the cylinders having the operating pistons therein, a vacuum passageway, valve means operatedby the operating pistons for connecting the vacuum passageway alternately to the respective ports leading to the of the .block,ithecorresponding bores'in the op; posite sides of the block being in alignment, operating pistons in one set of aligned bores and timing pistons in the other set of aligned cylinder bores, means for interconnecting aligned pistons comprising bridging members extending across the'block and fingers extending from each bridgingme'mber and slidable into aligned pistons and releasable spring means releasably holding the fingers and pistons together, air passageways for the cylinder bores terminating in ports at the top 'of'zthe block'between the bores therein, valve means operated by the timing pistons for controlling the establishment of vacuum connections alternately to the respective ports leading to the cylinders having the operating pistons therein, a vacuum passageway, valve means operated by the the operating pistons for connecting the vacuum passageway alternately to the respective ports leading to the cylinders having the timing pistons therein, and air fiow regulating means in said vacuum passageway.

6. A pulsator for milking apparatus, comprising a valve block having an upper surface and two oppositely disposed side surfaces and two oppositely disposed end surfaces, two parallel cylinder bores extending inwardly from each of said side surfaces of the block and with the cylinder bores in oppositely aligned pairs, a piston in each cylinder, piston rods joining together the pistons in the oppositely disposed cylinders, each piston rod including a crossbar that extends across the upper flat surface of the valve block and at the endsof said bar there being depending fingers that extend into the respective pistons.

7. A pulsator for milking apparatus, comprising a valve block having an upper surface and two oppositely disposed side surfaces and two oppositely disposed end surfaces, two parallel cylinder bores extending inwardly from each of said side surfaces of the block and with the cylinder bores in oppositely aligned pairs, a piston in each cylinder, piston rods joining together the pistons in the oppositely disposed cylinders, each piston rod including a crossbar that extends across the upper flat surface of the valve block and at the ends of said bar there being depending fingers that extend into the respective pistons, each of said fingers being at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the piston into which it extends and being slidable with respect to its piston so that the fingers may be retracted from the pistons by a retractive movement of the crossbar thereby releasing the pistons for removal from the cylinders. I

8. A pulsator for milking apparatus, comprising a valve block having an upper surface and two oppositely disposed side surfaces and two oppositely disposed end surfaces, two parallel cylinder bores extending inwardly from each of said said surfaces of the block and with the cylinder bores in oppositely aligned pairs, a piston in each cylinder, piston rods joining together the pistons in the oppositely disposed cylinders, each piston rod including a crossbar that extends across the upper fiat surface of the valve block and at the ends of said bar there being depending fingers that extend into the respective pistons, each of said fingers being at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the piston into which it extends and being slidablewith respect to its piston so that the fingers may be retracted from from the cylinders, and releasable spring means 7 releasably holding the fingers against retraction from their respective cylinders.

9. A pulsator for milking apparatus, comprising a valve block having an upper surface and two oppositely disposed side surfaces and two oppositely disposed end surfaces, two parallel cylinder bores extending inwardly from each of said side surfaces of the block and with the cylinder bores in oppositely aligned pairs, a piston in each cylinder, piston rods joining together the m pistons in the oppositely disposed cylinders, each piston rod including a crossbar that extends across the upper flat surface of the valve block and at the ends of said bar there being depending fingers that extend into the respective pistons, each of said fingers being at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the piston into which it extends and the pistons being rotatable about the fingers about an axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the piston.

SAM P. WALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 490,662 Knapper et al Jan. 31, 1893 1,243,199 Miller 1 Oct. 16, 1917 1,376,804 Fosler 1 May 3, 1921 2,262,814 Norvell Nov. 18, 1941 2,333,019 Lemm Oct. 26, 1943 2,419,844 McArthur et a1. -1" Apr. 29, 1947 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,523,795 September 26, 1950 SAM P. WALL It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

7 Column 6, line 61, for the words said surfaces read side surfaces;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of December, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant (Jommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

